To use the power of music to soothe the mind of inmates and to help wean them away from depression and negative thoughts, Sabarmati Jail has started music therapy for jail inmates. As a part of Azadi Ka Amrut Mohatsav, an event was organised on Saturday morning in the jail where senior justice from Gujarat High Court took initiative to give a second chance to prisoners through music.
Justice Sonia Gokani, AJ Desai, SH Vora, Bhargav Karia graced the event. Musician Viraj Amar, founder of Upasana School of Performing Arts and teachers of Rashtriya Raksha University, Gandhinagar– came together to lead the project and facilitate music therapy to jail inmates. The initiative was organised under the guidance of senior DIG Ashvin Chauhan and cop Tejas Patel.
The music is part of a new therapy program to help inmates with mental health barriers develop coping skills and better reintegrate into society.
Confirming this, Viraj Amar said, “We have begun a music therapy project to use the power of music in a big way to reform the jail’s inmates. It is said that music has the power to heal and bring positive energy as well as thoughts in a listener, we want to tap into its qualities here.”
The project, apart from seeking a role as a deterrent against criminal instincts, would give an opportunity to the musically inclined inmates to revisit their love.
On this occasion, jail inmates also took to the stage and sang songs of their choice. This is just the beginning of the vocational training and music therapy session for the prisoners. This will be an ongoing activity to train the inmates.
